Meet in the middle

Posted on July 11, 2016 by Tyne & Nicole Gardiner

It’s your turn to organize the next company conference and luckily you are about to knock their socks off. Here are five reasons to book the best meeting ever in Red Deer and totally impress the top dogs.

One. It’s in the middle

They’ll come from the south, you’ll come from the north and no one will have to get up early to do it. Red Deer is right in the middle between Edmonton and Calgary, so if you’re driving, it’s a quick 90-minute trip on the province’s main transportation corridor, the Hwy 2 – and if you’re flying, see reason number two.

Two. Fly in, fly out

Now more than ever, business and leisure travellers travel to and from Red Deer by air through the ever-expanding Red Deer Airport. Your clients can travel direct from around western Canada and from around the world with convenient daily flights from the Calgary hub.

Regional carrier Northwestern Air offers regular flights from Red Deer to Kelowna and Fort McMurray and since 2013, Air Canada has been offering three daily flights to and from Calgary. From here, travellers connect to the airline’s global network covering five continents and more than 180 destinations. The airport also offers free Wi-Fi and free terminal parking – your boss will really like that part.

Three. Perfect meeting spaces

From huge conference facilities to intimate meeting rooms, you’ll find a meeting space that suits you perfectly. Look for rooms with lots of natural light, free parking and tasty catered snacks and lunches. For big business gatherings, conferences or trade-shows, check out the massive conference facilities at the Sheraton Red Deer.

Many of the hotels off Hwy 2 offer intimate meeting spaces – check out the convenient Sandman Red Deer or further south, Ramada Red Deer with Mohave Grill right nearby. The Red Deer Lodge downtown, has beautiful meeting rooms to accommodate up to 120 people – plus friendly and tech-savvy staff to help with all your audio-visual needs and onsite catering.

Four. Lots of golf

After the meeting – or instead of, if you’re really trying to charm your clients – head out to one of Red Deer region’s top-rated golf courses. There are over ten golf courses located within a 10-30 min drive in the Red Deer area. The Scottish links-style Wolf Creek – 30 minutes north in Ponoka – is one of the province’s toughest and most unique courses with 36 holes of deep pot hole bunkers, high native grasses and wicked prairie wind.

The Nursery – 30 minutes north in Lacombe – is carved around a 75-year-old tree nursery with 41,000 trees, water everywhere and Canada’s longest hole – the par 6 hole 11 at 782 yards. And Innisfail – 25 minutes south – is the region’s most popular public course with 27 immaculate holes, rolling hills, flowerbeds and a big quiet lake.

Client bad at golf? Or maybe you’re on a tight time constraint. No stress, Top O’ The Hill Golf Course in nearby Sylvan Lake is an executive nine hole, three par course. Offering stunning views of Sylvan Lake, this course has challenges for for the more experienced golfer’s iron play, yet is friendly enough for amateurs.

Five. Eat big steaks

Red Deer is right in the middle of the province’s agricultural heartland with access to farm fresh produce and big juicy Alberta-sized steaks. Treat your workmates to prime rib weekends at Boulevard in the Holiday Inn & Suites, a steak sandwich at George’s, the royal buffet at the Black Knight Inn or AAA ranch-cut rib eye at Heritage Ranch. You’ve all got to eat – may as well give them a feast.

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